Softball

Long Ball Powers Cal State Fullerton Past Utah in 5-2 Victory

FULLERTON, CA -
Cal State Fullerton junior Kiki Munoz and senior Ashley Van Boxmeer each slugged home runs and senior right-hander Candice Baker struck out 11 as the Titans clinched their second consecutive victory with a 5-2 win over Utah on Wednesday night at Anderson Family Field.

Fullerton improved to 16-13 overall while the Utes fell to 17-9-1 on the season.

Baker (9-8) earned the victory, reaching double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time the season, allowing two runs on eight hits before leaving the game with two outs in the seventh.

After a walk, senior Brooke Weekley earned her first collegiate save, striking out Staci Hemingway with the bases loaded to end the game.

Karina Cannon (5-4) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out three in two innings of work. Meghan Dyer entered in relief and pitched well, allowing just three hits while striking out seven in four innings of work to keep Utah close.

Fullerton jumped out quickly, plating three runs in the first with two outs as Courtney Martinez reached on a single and Van Boxmeer was hit by a pitch to put a pair on for Munoz, who slugged her third home run of the season to centerfield for the 3-0 advantage.

The Titans tacked on two more in the third as Martinez reached on a single and came home on Van Boxmeer's fifth round-tripper of the year to left centerfield to put Cal State Fullerton up 5-0.

The home run gave Van Boxmeer 28 for her career, moving her into sole possession of fourth place on the school's all-time list. She is just one shy of All-American Monica Lucatero's 29 from 1999-02 for third on the list.

Utah began chipping away, breaking up Baker's shutout bid in the sixth as Meghan Crouse singled to lead off the inning and came home on Hailey Davenport's double to right to make it 5-1.

The Utes added another in the seventh as Kelly Matthews reached on an infield single with two outs and scored one batter later on Diana Phillips' double to center to make it 5-2.

Crouse then followed with another infield single to put a pair on and remove Baker from the game in favor of Weekley, who walked Davenport to load the bases.

That brought up Hemingway, who was sent down swinging on a 1-2 offering from Weekley to end the game.

Utah stranded eight runners on base, including four in scoring position, for the game.

Martinez finished 3-for-3 on the night to lead the Titans - her second three-hit game of the season. Five other Fullerton players had hits.

Crouse also went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Utes.

Cal State Fullerton returns to Anderson Family Field on Saturday afternoon as the Titans host Ohio State and San Diego State beginning at noon. The Buckeyes and Aztecs will meet prior to those games at 10 a.m.